Golf ball practice driving apparatus

ABSTRACT

The apparatus has a ground support platform with an upright tee member accessible to a golfer standing on one end of the platform. The other end of the platfrom carries a ball receiving and delivering mechanism that includes an up and down pivoted ball guiding arm. In response to a single actuation of a foot operated member at the golfer&#39;&#39;s end of the platform, a single ball is released from a container and supplied to the guide arm which directs the released ball downwardly onto the tee member. On release of the foot operated member the guide arm is movable upwardly away from the tee member to permit full accessibility to the tee ball for driving purposes. A coin operated mechanism presets the number of balls to be driven during one driving round, and after such preset number of balls has been driven, the apparatus is rendered inoperative regardless of any later actuation of the foot operated member. A yardage indicating device may be associated with the apparatus for simulating competitive playing for confined or limited areas such hotel and motel grounds, or indoor recreational rooms and the like.

United States Patent 1 Willcox Sept. 11, 1973 GOLF BALL PRACTICE DRIVINGAPPARATUS [76] Inventor: Leland J. Willcox, Cambridge, Iowa [22] Filed:Aug. 26, 1971 21 Appl. No.: 175,271

[52] U.S. Cl. 273/201, 273/181 J, 273/182 R, 2737184 R [51] Int. ClA631) 57/00 [58] Field of Search 273/201, 11 C [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,127,282 8/1938 Beckett 273/201 2,013,881 9/1935Fleming 273/201 1,888,256 11/1932 Boumgartner... 273/201 902,151 10/1908Hepton 273/11 C 1,545,959 7/1925 l-luyler 273/201 1,785,150 12/1930Soubier et aL... 273/201 2,171,299 8/1939 Beckett 273/201 2,675,2374/1954 Willcox..... 273/201 3,294,402 12/1966 Scott 273/201 PrimaryExaminer-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Harry G. StrappelloAttorney-Rudolph L. Lowell [57] ABSTRACT The apparatus has a groundsupport platform with an upright tee member accessible to a golferstanding on one end of the platform. The other end of the platfromcarries a ball receiving and delivering mechanism that includes an upand down pivoted ball guiding arm. In response to a single actuation ofa foot operated member at the golfers end of the platform, a single ballis released from a container and supplied to the guide arm which directsthe released ball downwardly onto the tee member. On release of the footoperated member the guide arm is movable upwardly away from the teemember to permit full accessibility to the tee ball for drivingpurposes. A coin operated mechanism presets the number of balls to bedriven during one driving round, and after such preset number of ballshas been driven, the apparatus is rendered inoperative regardless of anylater actuation of the foot operated member. A yardage indicating devicemay be associated with the apparatus for simulating competitive playingfor confined or limited areas such hotel and motel grounds, or indoorrecreational rooms and the like.

5 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures W MNMN IMI Mum Fae z/szawa J Mucax 5? u i MSHEET E OF 4 PATENTEU 7 3.758.118

SHEEI 3 0f 4 Ayn/v0 J. Mucax SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus isof a simple and sturdy construction and comprised of parts capable ofwithstanding hard usage over a long service life with a minimum ofmaintenance attention. If repairs are required, such can be made byrelativelyunskilled persons with the use of readily available tools andparts. The apparatus is easily operated to efficiently release golfballs successively from a supply source, and to set eachreleased ball ona tee member without necessitating any bending over or walking about bythe golfer. A coin controlled mechanism presets the number of balls tobe driven. The balls may be driven into a net for automatic return to asupply source so that the apparatus is continuously reloaded forplay.-Tosimulate a playing atmosphere in the use of the apparatus a movabletarget placed in the net, on being struck by a ball, operates a yardageindicator, with the yardage varying in accordance with the movement ofthe target when hit by a driven ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thegolf ball driving apparatus of this invention shown in assembly relationwith a net structure for receiving a driven ball;

F IG. 2 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken along the line 2 2 inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan sectional view as seen on line 3 3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3; I

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a coin operated ratchet andcam mechanism for presetting the number of balls to be delivered duringone round of practice driving;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 6 6 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view seen along the line 7 7 in FIG. 6;'

FIG. 8 is illustrated similarly to FIG. 7 showing the parts'thereof inchanged positions;

FIG. 9 is a reduced sectional view taken along the line 9 9 in FIG. 3showing a ball in a supported position on an elevating arm;

F IG. 10' is illustrated similarly to FIG. 9 and shows a ball beingtransferred from the elevating arm to a track or guide arm;

FIG. 11 is illustrated similarly to FIG. 9 and shows a ball beingreleased from a discharge chute on to the elevating arm;

FIG. 12 is a sectionaldetail view taken on the line 12 12 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional detail view as seen along line 13 13 inFIG. 4;

FIG. 14, illustrated similarly to FIG. 13, shows the parts thereof inchanged positions;

FIG. 15 is an enlargedsectional view of the net structure taken alongline 15 1 5 in FIG. 1;

' FIG. 16 is a sectional view on line 16 16 in FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is an enlarged sectional detail view on line 17 17in FIG. 16;and

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along the line 18 18 in FIG. 17.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings,the apparatus of this invention is seen to include a platform or basestructure 20 of a rectangular shape having an end sec: tion 21 forsupporting a golfer and an opposite end section 22 for carrying a ballreceiving and delivery unit, indicated as 23, for guiding a ball 24 intoa driving or teed up position on a tee member 26. Projected laterallyfrom one side of the platform 20 is a ball receiving net structure 27having a converged bottom wall 28 that serves as a container forcollecting and directing hit balls into a discharge chute member 29(FIG. 3) in which the balls are arranged in a single row or file. Thechute member 29 constitutes a magazine from which the collected ballsmay be released. one at a time for delivery to the tee member 26. Thus,it is seen that with the golfer standing on the platform section 21 aball 24 on being driven from the tee 26 into the net structure 27 fallsonto the converging floor 28 for return by gravity action to the chutemember 29.

The platform structure 20 (FIGS. 3 and 4) may be of a wood constructioncomprised of longitudinally extended upright transversely spaced framemembers 31a, 31b and 31c which are connected together by a pair of toppanel sections 32 and 3.3 arranged at different elevations so that thepanel section 32 at the golfers section 21 is higher than the panelsection 33 which supports the unit 23. A bristle rug or brush 34(FIG. 1) or the like is carried on the lower panel section 33 and hasprojected therethrough the tee member 26.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 the ball receiving and delivery unit 23includes a housing 36 of an inverted box shape. Located below thehousing 36 and within the confines of the platform structure 20 is apivoted arm member 37 for successively releasing the lead ones of thegolf balls 24 from the discharge chute 29. A pivoted elevating member 38for receiving a ball released by the arm member 37 is normally locatedbelow the housing 36, and is movable upwardly into the housing throughan opening 39 in the panel member 33. A pivoted track means or guide arm41 within the housing 36 receives a ball 24 from the elevating arm 38and then guides the ball to a teed up position on the tee member 26. Acoin controlled mechanism 42 also located within the housing 36 presetsthe number of balls 24 to be released by the arm member 37 during oneround of play or driving by a golfer;

Located to the underside of the panel sections 32 and 33 (FIGS. 3 and 4)is a foot operated rock shaft 43 which extends longitudinally of theplatform 20 and is rotatably supported in bearing members 44 that aremounted on the frame member 31a. At one end of the rock shaft 43 is aradially extended foot actuated member 46 that projects through thepanel section 32 at a position conveniently accessible to a golferwithout requiring his moving from a driving position on the platform 20.The opposite end of the rock shaft 43 has a rock arm 47 projectedupwardly through an opening 48 in the panel section 33 and into thehousing 36. A cross arm 49 extended axially of the rock shaft 43 iscarried on the free end of the rock arm 47 for movement transversely ofthe platform 20 in response to each foot operation of the rock shaft 43.Spaced longitudinally of and secured to the cross arm 49 is a series offour connecting cables 51, 52, 53 and 54 corresponding, re-

spectively, to the track means 41, coin controlled mechanism 42, theball elevating arm 38 and a target assembly 45.

The ball release arm 37 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is formed of a length of angleiron extended longitudinally along the platform frame member 31c withone leg 56 thereof arranged adjacent to and in a parallel relation withthe frame member 310. The arm 37 is pivoted at 57 (FIG. 4) intermediateits ends for up and down movement of a gate section 58 thereof into andout of an upper or ball holding position relative to a ball entranceopening 59 formed in the frame member 310.

The terminal end of the discharge chute 29 is located opposite theopening 59 to provide for a gravity feed of the lead one of the balls 24through the opening 59 when the gate section 58 of the release arm 37 isin its lower or ball releasing position. As shown in FIG. 11 this ballreleasing position is defined by the location of the leg 56 of the gatesection 58 below the lower side of the ball opening 59. The gate section(FIG. 3) is continuously urged toward the upper or ball holding positiontherefor by a weight 61 carried on the ball release arm 37.

The gate section 58 is moved to its lower or bail releasing position bythe movement of the pivoted elevating arm 38 to a lower ball receivingposition (FIG. 11 The elevating arm (FIGS. 3 and 4) is of a channelshape in transverse cross section and in its lower position extendsbetween the platform frame members 31b and 31c in line with the ballopening 59. With one end of the elevating arm pivoted at 62 on the framemember 31b, its free or opposite end 63 overlies the horizontal leg 64of the release arm 37 at the opening 59 (FIG. 11). The channel of theelevating arm 38 is closed at a position spaced inwardly from its freeend 63 by a stop plate 66 to form a pocket or ball receiving portion Theelevating arm 38 is of a weight such that on its end 63 of the elevatingarm and moved to its lower ball releasing position against the action ofthe weight 61. When this occurs, the lead one of the balls 24 from thedischarge chute 29 (FIG. 3) is movable through the opening 59 and intothe ball supporting portion 67 of the elevating arm 38. The stop plate66 retains a released ball 24 at a position such that the released ball24 (FIG. 11) and the next adjacent following ball are in touchingengagement in substantially the plane of the vertical leg 56 of therelease arm 37. Thus, on upward movement of the free end 63 of theelevating arm 38, the release arm 37 is concurrently movable therewithto an upper ball holding position by the weight 61. On a continuedupward movement of the elevating arm 38, therefore, the balls in thedischarge chute 29 are held against travel through the opening 59.Upward movement of the elevating arm 38 takes place in response to afoot operation of the rock shaft 43 in a manner to be hereinafterdescribed.

On movement of the elevating arm 38 to its upright position, shown inFIG. 10, the golf ball 24 is transferred by what might be called acatapault action onto the track or guide arm 41. As illustrated in FIGS.3 and 4, the guide arm extends longitudinally of the frame member 31bfor pivotal up and down movement in a vertical plane normal to thevertical plane of movement of the elevating arm 38. The guide arm ispivoted intermediate its ends at 68' for pivotal up and down movementbetween a pair of spaced members 69 and 71 extended transversely of thehousing unit 36. The guide arm 41 is formed with an inner section 72 ofa channel shape and an outer section 73 of a loop form having flatupright leg members 74 secured to and in longitudinal alignment withcorresponding channel legs of the inner section 72. The forward or loopend 76 of the outer section 73 is of an enlarged circular shape relativeto the spacing between the legs 74 and of a size to permit a guidedtravel of a golf ball therethrough. The outer section 73 of the guidearm 41 projects outwardly from the housing 36 through an upright openinglocated opposite the tee member 26. The terminal end of the innersection 72 carries a weight 77 so as to continuously urge the outersection 73 of the guide arm 41 to its upper or normal rest positiondefined by the engagement thereof with the upper side of the opening 75.The lower position of the outer section 73 occurs when such sectionengages the lower side of the opening 75.

In a ball teeing position the loop end 76 of the track arm 41 isarranged about and in a concentrically spaced relation with the teemember 26. At the same time a portion of the inner channel section 72 islocated adjacent to and below the ball supporting portion 67 of theelevating arm 38 when such arm is in its upright position shown in FIG.10, defined by engagement of the arm 38 with the transverse member 71.When the track arm 41 and elevating arm 38 are thus relatively arrangeda ball 24 is discharged from the pocket 67 of the elevating arm 38 ontothe inner section 72 with the legs thereof forming guide tracks betweenwhich the ball 24 is guided downwardly onto the legs 74 of the outertrack section 73. The legs 74 then guide the ball for travel through theloop 76 to a supported position on the upper end of the tee member 26.On movement of the track arm 41 to its rest or inoperative position ofFIG. 9 the loop end 76 merely moves upwardly from the tee member 26without interference with the teed ball 24.

The cable 53 (FIG. 9), for raising the elevating arm 38, from an endsecured to the cross arm 49 of the rock arm 47 is trained over a firstroller 78 mounted on the top side of the platform panel 33 and thendownwardly through an opening 79 in the panel 33 for travel about alower roller 81 suspended from the under side of the panel 33. From thelower roller 81 the cable 53 passes through an opening 82 formed in theframe member 31b for connection of its opposite end 83 to a laterallyprojected connector 84 on the elevating arm 38.

The cable 51 (FIG. 10) for the guide arm 41 extends from the cross arm49 for travel upwardly about a roller 86 carried on the top side ofpanel member 33 at a position between the transverse members 69 and 71.The opposite end 87 of the cable 51 is attached to a connector 88secured to the under side of the arm 41 at a position forwardly of thepivot 68 (FIG. 4).

Thus in response to a single actuation of the foot actuator 46 therelease arm 37 is permitted to be moved upwardly by the weight 61 to aball holding position on upward movement of the elevating arm 38 fromits position shown in FIG. 11 to the position thereof in FIG. 10.Concurrently with this upward movement of the elevating arm 38, theguide arm 41 is likewise moved from its position of FIG. 11 to itsposition in FIG. 10. On engagement of the elevating arm 38 with thetransverse member 71, a released ball 24 is ejected from the pocket 67onto the guide arm 41. During this ejection action the ball 24 isdirected to a position on the guide arm by a hood member 89 secured tothe transverse member 69.

After the ball 24 has been teed up on the member 26 the foot actuator 46is released whereby the rock arm 47 is returned to its normal or restposition by a torsion spring 85 (FIG. 3) operatively connected to therock shaft 43 and one of the rock shaft bearings 44. This returnmovement of the cross arm 49 provides for the return movement of theguide track 41 by a weight 77 thereon and the elevating arm 38 fromtheir positions shown in F IG. to the positions thereof shown in FIG.

To assure the efficient function of the guide arm 41 to tee up a ball 24on the tee 26, the relative movements of the rock arm 47 and guide arm41 through the cable connection 51 are such that the loop 76 of the arm41 is concentrically spaced about the tee 26 before the rock arm 47 hasmoved through its full actuating movement. To permit the continuedmovement of the rock arm 47 through a full actuating movement thereforwhile maintaining the guide arm 41 in its lower position against thelower side of the housing opening 75, a coil spring 92 is connected inthe cable 51.

Additionally, in order to provide for thepivotal movement of the rockarm 47 through its full swing or actuating movement each time the footactuator 46 is depressed a toothed segment 94 (FIG. 4) is secured to andprojected upwardly from the panel member 33 in a plane parallel to theplane of pivotal movement of the rock arm 47 and extended transverselyof the cross arm 49. Pivotally suspendedfrom the cross arm (FIGS. 13 and14) for operative association with the teeth 96 on the segment 94 is apawl member 97. In a manner well known the pawl 97 (FIG. 13) is movablefrom a disengaged position, shown in dotted lines, into successiveengagement with the teeth 96 on pivotal movement of the rock arm 47 inone direction indicated by the arrow A. When the pawl 97 reaches itsfull line position, shown in FIG. 14, it is movable in the direction ofthe arrow B over the teeth 96, as shown in dotted lines, for return toits dotted line position shown in FIG. 13. As a result the rock arm 47cannot be partially moved over its operating range and must be movedthrough a complete cycle on each actuation of the foot member 46 beforethe guide arm 41 is permitted to move away from a guided relation with aball 24 on the tee member 26. I

As thus far described it is seen that so long as golf balls are suppliedto the discharge chute 29 a ball 24 will be positioned on the tee member26 in response to each actuation of the foot member 46. To limit orcontrol the number of balls to be played by a golfer during one round ofplay or driving practice, there is provided the coin mechanism 42 forrendering the elevating arm 38 inoperative to move the release arm 37out of a ball holding position. The mechanism 42 (FIGS. 4 and 5) includea shaft 99 extended transversely of and supported in the side walls ofthe housing unit 36. Mounted in a stacked relation on the shaft 99 (FIG.6) and in order from the front side wall 101 of the housing is a coinwheel 102, a release cam 103, a pawl support 104, a support 106 for aworking pawl 107, a ratchet 108 and a holding cam 109.

The coin wheel 102 is adapted to receive a coin indicated at'110 from acoin chute 111 (FIGS. 4 and 5) secured to the housing wall 112 which isformed with a coin receiving opening 113. When the coin (FIGS. 5 and 7)is deposited in a coin slot 114 formed in the periphery of the coinwheel 102, rotation of the wheel moves the coin into engagement with apivoted latch member 116 to provide for the movement of a latch abutment118 out of engagement with a stop shoulder on the release cam 103.Release of the cam 103 provides for a rotation of the shaft 99 throughan angular distance defined by the movement of a hand knob 119 (FIGS. 1and 3) between stop members 121. This limited rotation of the shaft 99provides for a corresponding rotational movement of the ratchet 108 andholding cam 109. It is to be understood that during this partialrotation of the shaft 99, as defined by the stop members 121, the coinwheel 102, release cam 103, ratchet 108 and holding cam 109 are allrotatable as a unit with the shaft, with the hub portions correspondingto the pawl supports 104 and 106 being rotatable relative to the shaft99.

The latch member 116 is pivotally suspended from a transverse member 122connected to and extended between the housing side walls. The latchabutment 118 and a coin engaging finger 117 are continuously biased intoengagement with the release cam 103 and the coin wheel 102 respectively,by a coil spring 123 (FIG. 7) connected to one end of the latch member116 and to a connector 124 extended laterally from the transverse member122.

The pawl support 106 for the working pawl 107 is continuously biased inan upward direction by a coil spring 126 connected to the free end ofthe support 106 and to a connector (not shown) on the transverse member122. The pawl support 106 is pivotally moved, against the action of thespring 126, to move the working pawl 107 into successive engagement withthe teeth 127 on the ratchet 108. To move the pawl support 106 there isprovided a cable 128 having one end attached to a connector 129 on thepawl support 106 (FIG. 5) for extension downwardly about a roller 131(FIG. 4) for connection of its opposite end at 132 to the cross arm 49of the rock arm 47. The roller 131 is located on the panel 33 parallelto and adjacent the roller 78. It is seen, therefore, that in responseto each actuation of the foot member 46 the ratchet 108 is advanced onetooth 127. A holding pawl carried at the free end of the pawl support104 is gravity actuated to hold the ratchet 108 in its moved position asprovided by the working pawl 107. The above described one tooth advanceof the ratchet 108 continues until the working pawl 107 engages thetooth blank on the ratchet 108. At about the same time a high spot 133on the holding cam 109 moves into engagement with a pivoted hold bar 134extended transversely of the shaft 99 (FIG. 4) and having one endpivoted at 136 on an end wall of the housing 36.

A cable 137 has one end attached to a laterally extended connector 138on the hold. bar 134 (FIG. 4). From the connector 138 the cable 137 istraineddownwardly about a roller 139 and then longitudinally of thehousing 36 for travel downwardly about a roller 141 and through thepanel 33 for attachment of its opposite end 142 to the free end of apivoted stop bar 143. The rollers 139 and 141 are mounted on the top ofthe panel member 33 and the stop bar 143 is pivoted at 144 from theunderside of the panel member 33 so as to extend transversely of andbelow the elevating arm 38.

The cable 137 is of a length such that when the hold bar 134 is restingon the high spot 133 of the holding cam 109 the stop bar 143 is pivotedupwardly to engage and hold the elevating arm 38 against moving therelease arm 37 downwardly to its ball releasing position, shown in FIG.11. Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 9 for so long as the hold bar 134 ridesthe high spot 133 of the cam 109, the release arm 37 will remain in aball holding position. As a result after a predetermined number of teethon the ratchet 108, corresponding in number to the balls to be played,have been advanced, a later actuation of the foot member 46 will beineffective to provide for a ball being teed on the member 26. Statedotherwise, the elevating arm 38 and guide arm 41 will be moved inall-respects the same as when a ball has been delivered thereto, but oneach actuation thereof the elevating arm will be returned to a stopposition on the stop bar 143 without providing for any movement of therelease arm 37 to its ball releasing position of FIG. 11. The apparatuswill thus remain inoperative until another coin is inserted into thecoin mechanism 42. On the insertion of another coin 110 the ratchet 108is rotatable in a clockwise direction by manipulation of the hand knob119 from its position in FIG. 7 to its position in FIG. 8 concurrentlywith the rotation of the cam high spot 133 out of engagement with thehold bar 134. The apparatus is thus reset for the driving of anotherround of balls 24.

For the purpose of simulating competitive play the net structure 27 isprovided with the pivoted target assembly 45 comprised of a pair ofupright frame members 147 (FIGS. 1 and connected together over theirlower portions by a pair of vertically spaced cross members 148.Covering the are between the cross members 148 is a flexible plasticsheet 149. The upper ends of the frame members 147 are connectedtogether by a cross member 146 which is pivotally suspended by knifeedge assemblies 151, the fulcrum members 152 of which are mounted on across bar 153 that constitutes part of the frame 154 of the netstructure 27. The knife edges 155 are formed on end extensions 156 ofthe cross member 146.

Suspended from the cross bar 153 at a position forwardly of the targetsheet 149 is a sheet of canvas or like material 157 having a cut outportion 158 opposite the plastic sheet 149. The cut out 158 is of asmaller size than the plastic sheet 149 so as to shield or cover theupright frame members 147 and cross members 148. Thus, a ball strikingthe canvas sheet 157 is out of bounds since it is not within the area ofthe target sheet 149 exposed .through the cut out 158. Importantly, adriven ball is also prevented from hitting the target frame members 147and 148 and then rebounding back toward the golfer.

Additionally, it will be seen in FIGS. 16 and 18 that the upright framemembers 147 of the target assembly 45 are of a curved shape adjacent theknife assemblies l51. As a result the assembly 45 is inclined downwardlyand rearwardly from the vertical plane of the canvas sheet 157. Thus aball 24 on striking the target sheet 149 is not only prevented fromrebounding forwardly, but acts to immediately pivotally move the targetsheet 149 in a rearward direction along with directing the balldownwardly onto the converging bottom wall 28 of the net structure 27.

To give an indication as to the number of yards covered by a ballhitting the target sheet 149, a nylon cord 159 has one end attached tothe upright frame member indicated as 147a (FIGS. 1 and 16). The otherend of the nylon cord 159 is attached to one end of an indicator needleor pointer 161 that is pivoted at 162 inter mediate its ends on amounting plate 163 carried on the net structure 27 adjacent one end ofthe housing unit 36. The mounting plate carries a scale 164 that iscalibrated to indicate yardage corresponding to the rearward pivoteddistance which the target sheet 149 is moved when struck by a golf ball.The cable 54 (FIGS. 1 and 4) has one end secured to the indicator 161 atthe point of securement of the cord 159 and is then extended into thehousing 36 for connection of its opposite end to the cross arm 49 of therock arm 47.

As shown in FIG. 2 the indicator 161 at its pivot 162 is frictionallyheld by a spring assembly 167 against free movement relative to themounting plate 163. Thus, on being moved by the cord 159 in response toa rearward pivoted movement of the target sheet 149 the indicator 161remains at the moved position to provide for a reading of the yardage onthe scale 164. On actuation of the foot member 46 to deliver a next ballto the tee member 26 the cable 54 is actuated to move the indicator 161back to its rest or neutral position. The indicator is thus set to givea yardage reading for the next drive.

Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferredembodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be solimited since changes and modifications can be made therein which arewithin the full intended scope of this invention as defined by theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A golf ball practice driving apparatus for successively teeing-upgolf balls comprising:

a. a ground supported platform having a top surface,

b. a stationary tee member on said platform projected upwardly from saidtop surface,

c. a container for golf balls having a discharge chute for a single rowof balls,

d. means on said platform located below said top surface for releasingonly the lead ball from said row of balls to a location below said topsurface,

e. means for moving said released ball from said location to a positionabove said surface,

f. means on said platform positioned above said top surface forreceiving a released ball at said position above said surface anddelivering said released ball downwardly to a teed position on saidstationary tee member,

g. means on said platform for operating said releasing means andreceiving and delivering means having a manually operated actuatingmember, and

h. means interconnecting said releasing means and receiving anddelivering means with said operating means for sequential operation inresponse to actuation of said actuating member.

2. A golf ball practice driving apparatus for successively teeing-upgolf balls comprising:

a. a ground supported platform,

b. an upright tee member on said platform,

0. a foot operated member movably supported on said platform having afoot engageable portion projected upwardly from the platform,

d. a container for golf balls having a discharge chute for a single rowvof balls,

e. means on said platform for releasing only the lead ball from said rowof balls,

f. means on said platform for receiving a released ball and deliveringsaid released ball to a teed position on said tee member,

g. means interconnecting said releasing means and receiving anddelivering means with said foot operated lever for sequential operationin response to an actuation of said foot engageable portion,

h. said discharge chute having a terminal end and said releasing meansincluding a pivoted arm member,

i. means pivotally supporting said arm member on said platform for upand down movement of one end portion thereof into and out of closingposition with said terminal end,

j. means for biasing said one end portion into said position onactuation of said foot engageable portion to elevate the released ball,whereby to permit movement of said arm member to a chute closingposition by said biasing means.

3. The golf ball practice driving apparatus of claim 2 wherein:

a. said ball-receiving and delivery means includes a pivoted ball-guidemeans located in a vertical plane parallel to a vertical plane extendedlongitudinally of said arm member,

b. means pivotally supporting said guide means intermediate the endsthereof at an elevated position relative to the axes of said elevatingmember and arm member,

0. said guide means, on actuation of said foot engageable portion, beingmovable to a first position wherein one end thereof is located toreceive a released ball from said elevating member in the uprightposition therefor, and to a second position wherein the opposite endthereof is located to golf balls in succession comprising:

a. a platform,

b. a golf ball container on said platform having an outlet portion fordischarging balls in a single file,

0. an upright tee member on said platform,

d. a ball elevating means movably mounted on the platform having a ballsupporting portion movable from a lower ball-receiving position to anupper ball-discharge position,

e. a selector unit for separating the lead ball in said file from theremaining balls in the file for reception on said ball-supportingportion in the lower position thereof,

f. a track means movably mounted on the platform for up and downmovement, said track means in the lower position therefor having one endportion located to deposit a ball on said tee member, and an oppositeend portion spaced from said supporting portion in the ball-dischargeposition therefor, and said track means in the upper position thereforhaving said one end portion located remote from the tee member and theopposite end portion located to receive a ball from said ball-elevatingmeans when said supporting portion is in the balldischarge positiontherefor,

g. a foot operated member movably supported on said platform having afoot actuated portion projected upwardly from said platform, and

h. means interconnecting said elevating means, said selector unit andsaid track means with said foot operated member for sequential operationin response to an actuation of said foot portion, to provide for themovement of said lead ball from said outlet portion to a teed positionon said tee member.

5. The golf ball practice driving apparatus of claim 4 including:

a. means for holding said opposite end of the track means againstmovement away from said tee member until after said foot actuatedportion has been moved to a fully actuated position.

1. A golf ball practice driving apparatus for successively teeing-upgolf balls comprising: a. a ground supported platform having a topsurface, b. a stationary tee member on said platform projected upwardlyfrom said top surface, c. a container for golf balls having a dischargechute for a single row of balls, d. means on said platform located belowsaid top surface for releasing only the lead ball from said row of ballsto a location below said top surface, e. means for moving said releasedball from said location to a position above said surface, f. means oNsaid platform positioned above said top surface for receiving a releasedball at said position above said surface and delivering said releasedball downwardly to a teed position on said stationary tee member, g.means on said platform for operating said releasing means and receivingand delivering means having a manually operated actuating member, and h.means interconnecting said releasing means and receiving and deliveringmeans with said operating means for sequential operation in response toactuation of said actuating member.
 2. A golf ball practice drivingapparatus for successively teeing-up golf balls comprising: a. a groundsupported platform, b. an upright tee member on said platform, c. a footoperated member movably supported on said platform having a footengageable portion projected upwardly from the platform, d. a containerfor golf balls having a discharge chute for a single row of balls, e.means on said platform for releasing only the lead ball from said row ofballs, f. means on said platform for receiving a released ball anddelivering said released ball to a teed position on said tee member, g.means interconnecting said releasing means and receiving and deliveringmeans with said foot operated lever for sequential operation in responseto an actuation of said foot engageable portion, h. said discharge chutehaving a terminal end and said releasing means including a pivoted armmember, i. means pivotally supporting said arm member on said platformfor up and down movement of one end portion thereof into and out ofclosing position with said terminal end, j. means for biasing said oneend portion into said closing position, k. said ball receiving anddelivering means including a pivoted ball-elevating member movable to ahorizontal position normal to said arm member at the terminal end ofsaid discharge chute with the free end thereof engageable with the armmember to move said arm member, against the action of said biasingmeans, out of a closing position with said terminal end whereby areleased ball is permitted to drop onto said free end, and l. saidball-elevating member movable to an upright position on actuation ofsaid foot engageable portion to elevate the released ball, whereby topermit movement of said arm member to a chute closing position by saidbiasing means.
 3. The golf ball practice driving apparatus of claim 2wherein: a. said ball receiving and delivery means includes a pivotedball-guide means located in a vertical plane parallel to a verticalplane extended longitudinally of said arm member, b. means pivotallysupporting said guide means intermediate the ends thereof at an elevatedposition relative to the axes of said elevating member and arm member,c. said guide means, on actuation of said foot engageable portion, beingmovable to a first position wherein one end thereof is located toreceive a released ball from said elevating member in the uprightposition therefor, and to a second position wherein the opposite endthereof is located to guide the released ball onto said tee member, and,d. biasing means for moving said opposite end of the guide means awayfrom said tee member when said foot engageable portion is released.
 4. Agolf ball practice driving apparatus for teeing up golf balls insuccession comprising: a. a platform, b. a golf ball container on saidplatform having an outlet portion for discharging balls in a singlefile, c. an upright tee member on said platform, d. a ball elevatingmeans movably mounted on the platform having a ball supporting portionmovable from a lower ball-receiving position to an upper ball-dischargeposition, e. a selector unit for separating the lead ball in said filefrom the remaining balls in the file for reception on saidball-supporting portion in the lower position thereof, f. a track meansmovably mounted on the platform for up and down movement, saiD trackmeans in the lower position therefor having one end portion located todeposit a ball on said tee member, and an opposite end portion spacedfrom said supporting portion in the ball-discharge position therefor,and said track means in the upper position therefor having said one endportion located remote from the tee member and the opposite end portionlocated to receive a ball from said ball-elevating means when saidsupporting portion is in the ball-discharge position therefor, g. a footoperated member movably supported on said platform having a footactuated portion projected upwardly from said platform, and h. meansinterconnecting said elevating means, said selector unit and said trackmeans with said foot operated member for sequential operation inresponse to an actuation of said foot portion, to provide for themovement of said lead ball from said outlet portion to a teed positionon said tee member.
 5. The golf ball practice driving apparatus of claim4 including: a. means for holding said opposite end of the track meansagainst movement away from said tee member until after said footactuated portion has been moved to a fully actuated position.